Changes to order of running on Champion Day and Ladies Day at
The Festival in 2014
5th December, 2013– Cheltenham Racecourse announces changes to the order of running for the first
two days of The Festival in 2014.
On the opening day, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 11, 2014, the Grade Two OLBG Mares’ Hurdle
moves to become the fifth race (previously sixth) on the card at 4.00pm, immediately following the
Grade One Stan James Champion Hurdle (3.20pm).
This will enable the race, run over two and a half miles, to be shown live on Channel 4 Racing, giving
terrestrial viewers the chance to see history being made if the remarkable Quevega records a sixth
straight victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. The OLBG Mares’ Road to Cheltenham currently consists of
five mares' hurdle races, the highlight race being the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at The Festival.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare currently shares the record of five consecutive successes at The Festival
in the same race with Golden Miller, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup every year between 1932 and
1936.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, previously scheduled as the fifth contest on the Tuesday
(postponed to the Thursday in 2013 because of frost), switches to the same slot on the Wednesday,
Ladies Day, March 12, 2014.
The National Hunt Chase, which opened proceedings on the Wednesday in 2013, moves to Champion
Day, Tuesday, March 11 as the sixth race in 2014.
The programme on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 12, 2014, now starts with the Grade One Neptune
Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30pm, with the fifth race that day this year, the Coral Cup,
moving forward to be the third contest.
Simon Claisse, Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course for Cheltenham, commented: “The changes
introduced to the order of running for The Festival have meant that the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle is now
positioned so it is part of the Channel 4 Racing programme on the opening day.
“I very much hope that we might see Quevega return to Cheltenham to attempt to win the race for a
sixth time, which would be such an amazing achievement.
“Cheltenham has been working on supporting the mares’ pattern races over the season for a few years
now and by bringing the mares’ race onto terrestrial TV this allows further exposure for this category of
races. We have also introduced a new mares’ bumper which took place on The Open Saturday and was
won by The Govaness.”
The revised order of running is as follows:
THE FESTIVAL 2014
Champion Day – Tuesday, March 11 (Old Course)
Time Race Distance Prize Money
* 1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m ½f £120,000
* 2.05pm Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase 2m £150,000
* 2.40pm JLT Specialty Handicap Chase 3m ½f £90,000
* 3.20pm Stan James Champion Hurdle 2m ½f £400,000
* 4.00pm OLBG Mares’ Hurdle 2m 4f £85,000
4.40pm National Hunt Chase 4m £85,000
5.15pm Rewards4Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m 4½f £60,000
Ladies Day – Wednesday, March 12 (Old Course)
Time Race Distance Prize Money
* 1.30pm Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f £120,000
* 2.05pm RSA Chase 3m ½f £150,000
* 2.40pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f £80,000
* 3.20pm BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m £350,000
* 4.00pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 7f £45,000
4.40pm Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f £75,000
5.15pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m ½f £60,000
Thursday and Friday’s running orders remain the same.
* Channel 4 Televised Races
All races will be shown on Racing UK
About Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham.
The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world’s pre-eminent Jump Racing
meeting, The Festival, which takes place in March every year. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the
Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre and offers the highest-quality
action throughout the Jump season.
Please find more details at
www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces) and
Facebook
www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing
Cheltenham Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British racing for more
than 260 years. Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the largest
racecourse group in the UK by turnover (2012: £142.1m), courses (15) including those at Aintree,
Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and Newmarket, attendances (2012: 1.8m), total prize money (2012:
£35.3m), contribution to prize money (2012: £16.5m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races);
more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket and Lambourn; The National Stud
breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare.
Governed by Royal Charter, every penny The Jockey Club makes it puts back into British racing. More
information is available at
www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
For further information, please contact:
Sophia Brudenell, Communications Manager - South West, on 01242 537 683/07557 054 577 or
Sophia.Brudenell@thejockeyclub.co.uk
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